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P. Bouyer

Publications and source records attributed to P. Bouyer.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2008

Quantum Physics Exploring Gravity in the Outer Solar System: The Sagas Project

We summarise the scientific and technological aspects of the SAGAS (Search for Anomalous Gravitation using Atomic Sensors) project, submitted to ESA in June 2007 in response to the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 call for proposals. The proposed mission aims at flying highly sensitive atomic sensors (optical clock, cold atom accelerometer, optical link) on a Solar System escape trajectory in the 2020 to 2030 time-frame. SAGAS has numerous science objectives in fundamental physics and Solar System science, for example numerous tests of general relativity and the exploration of the Kuiper belt. The combination of highly sensitive atomic sensors and of the laser link well adapted for large distances will allow measurements with unprecedented accuracy and on scales never reached before. We present the proposed mission in some detail, with particular emphasis on the science goals and associated measurements.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2008

Theoretical tools for atom laser beam propagation

We present a theoretical model for the propagation of non self-interacting atom laser beams. We start from a general propagation integral equation, and we use the same approximations as in photon optics to derive tools to calculate the atom laser beam propagation. We discuss the approximations that allow to reduce the general equation whether to a Fresnel-Kirchhoff integral calculated by using the stationary phase method, or to the eikonal. Within the paraxial approximation, we also introduce the ABCD matrices formalism and the beam quality factor. As an example, we apply these tools to analyse the recent experiment by Riou et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 070404 (2006)].

cond-mat.other↗
arXiv2006

One-dimensional description of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a rotating closed-loop waveguide

We propose a general procedure for reducing the three-dimensional Schrodinger equation for atoms moving along a strongly confining atomic waveguide to an effective one-dimensional equation. This procedure is applied to the case of a rotating closed-loop waveguide. The possibility of including mean-field atomic interactions is presented. Application of the general theory to characterize a new concept of atomic waveguide based on optical tweezers is finally discussed.

cond-mat.other↗
arXiv2006

6-axis inertial sensor using cold-atom interferometry

We have developed an atom interferometer providing a full inertial base. This device uses two counter-propagating cold-atom clouds that are launched in strongly curved parabolic trajectories. Three single Raman beam pairs, pulsed in time, are successively applied in three orthogonal directions leading to the measurement of the three axis of rotation and acceleration. In this purpose, we introduce a new atom gyroscope using a butterfly geometry. We discuss the present sensitivity and the possible improvements.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2005

An Atom Trap Relying on Optical Pumping

We have investigated a new radiation pressure trap which relies on optical pumping and does not require any magnetic field. It employs six circularly polarized divergent beams and works on the red of a $J_{g} \longrightarrow J_{e} = J_{g} + 1$ atomic transition with $J_{g} \geq 1/2$. We have demonstrated this trap with cesium atoms from a vapour cell using the 852 nm $J_{g} = 4 \longrightarrow J_{e} = 5$ resonance transition. The trap contained up to $3 \cdot 10^{7}$ atoms in a cloud of $1/\sqrt{e}$ radius of 330 $μ$m.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2005

Fundamental Physics with the Laser Astrometric Test Of Relativity

The Laser Astrometric Test Of Relativity (LATOR) is a joint European-U.S. Michelson-Morley-type experiment designed to test the pure tensor metric nature of gravitation - a fundamental postulate of Einstein's theory of general relativity. By using a combination of independent time-series of highly accurate gravitational deflection of light in the immediate proximity to the Sun, along with measurements of the Shapiro time delay on interplanetary scales (to a precision respectively better than 0.1 picoradians and 1 cm), LATOR will significantly improve our knowledge of relativistic gravity. The primary mission objective is to i) measure the key post-Newtonian Eddington parameter γwith accuracy of a part in 10^9. (1-γ) is a direct measure for presence of a new interaction in gravitational theory, and, in its search, LATOR goes a factor 30,000 beyond the present best result, Cassini's 2003 test. The mission will also provide: ii) first measurement of gravity's non-linear effects on light to ~0.01% accuracy; including both the Eddington βparameter and also the spatial metric's 2nd order potential contribution (never measured before); iii) direct measurement of the solar quadrupole moment J2 (currently unavailable) to accuracy of a part in 200 of its expected size; iv) direct measurement of the "frame-dragging" effect on light by the Sun's gravitomagnetic field, to 1% accuracy. LATOR's primary measurement pushes to unprecedented accuracy the search for cosmologically relevant scalar-tensor theories of gravity by looking for a remnant scalar field in today's solar system. We discuss the mission design of this proposed experiment.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2005

A Mission to Explore the Pioneer Anomaly

The Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft yielded the most precise navigation in deep space to date. These spacecraft had exceptional acceleration sensitivity. However, analysis of their radio-metric tracking data has consistently indicated that at heliocentric distances of $\sim 20-70$ astronomical units, the orbit determinations indicated the presence of a small, anomalous, Doppler frequency drift. The drift is a blue-shift, uniformly changing with a rate of $\sim(5.99 \pm 0.01)\times 10^{-9}$ Hz/s, which can be interpreted as a constant sunward acceleration of each particular spacecraft of $a_P = (8.74 \pm 1.33)\times 10^{-10} {\rm m/s^2}$. This signal has become known as the Pioneer anomaly. The inability to explain the anomalous behavior of the Pioneers with conventional physics has contributed to growing discussion about its origin. There is now an increasing number of proposals that attempt to explain the anomaly outside conventional physics. This progress emphasizes the need for a new experiment to explore the detected signal. Furthermore, the recent extensive efforts led to the conclusion that only a dedicated experiment could ultimately determine the nature of the found signal. We discuss the Pioneer anomaly and present the next steps towards an understanding of its origin. We specifically focus on the development of a mission to explore the Pioneer Anomaly in a dedicated experiment conducted in deep space.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2003

Momentum Spectroscopy of Phase Fluctuations of an Elongated Bose-Einstein Condensate

We have measured the momentum distribution of an elongated BEC (aspect ratio of 152), for temperatures below the critical temperature. The corresponding coherence length is significantly smaller than the condensate length in a wide range of temperature, in quantitative agreement with theoretical predictions. The Lorentzian shape of the momentum spectrum supports the image of a phase fluctuating quasicondensate.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2003

Momentum distribution and correlation function of quasicondensates in elongated traps

We calculate the spatial correlation function and momentum distribution of a phase-fluctuating, elongated three-dimensional condensate, in a trap and in free expansion. We take the inhomogeneous density profile into account {\it{via}} a local density approximation. We find an almost Lorentzian momentum distribution, in stark contrast with a Heisenberg-limited Thomas-Fermi condensate.

cond-mat↗
arXiv2003

Momentum spectroscopy of 1D phase fluctuations in Bose-Einstein condensates

We measure the axial momentum distribution of Bose-Einstein condensates with an aspect ratio of 152 using Bragg spectroscopy. We observe the Lorentzian momentum distribution characteristic of one-dimensional phase fluctuations. The temperature dependence of the width of this distribution provides a quantitative test of quasi-condensate theory. In addition, we observe a condensate length consistent with the absence of density fluctuations, even when phase fluctuations are large.

cond-mat.soft↗
arXiv2002

Phase coherence length of a Bose-Einstein condensate

We report on the measurement of the momentum distribution of an elongated Bose-Einstein condensate. A broadening of the distribution with increasing temperature is observed, which is clear evidence for phase fluctuations in the sample.

cond-mat↗
arXiv2001

Atom laser divergence

We measure the angular divergence of a quasi-continuous, rf-outcoupled, free-falling atom laser as a function of the outcoupling frequency. The data is compared to a Gaussian-beam model of laser propagation that generalizes the standard formalism of photonic lasers. Our treatment includes diffraction, magnetic lensing, and interaction between the atom laser and the condensate. We find that the dominant source of divergence is the condensate-laser interaction.

cond-mat↗
arXiv2001

Understanding the production of dual BEC with sympathetic cooling

We show, both experimentally and theoretically, that sympathetic cooling of $^{87}$Rb atoms in the $|F=2,m_F=2>$ state by evaporatively cooled atoms in the $|F=1,m_F=-1>$ state can be precisely controlled to produce dual or single condensate in either state. We also study the thermalization rate between two species. Our model renders a quantitative account of the observed role of the overlap between the two clouds and points out that sympathetic cooling becomes inefficient when the masses are very different. Our calculation also yields an analytical expression of the thermalization rate for a single species.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2001

Quasi-continuous atom laser in the presence of gravity

We analyse the extraction of a coherent atomic beam from a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate using a rf transition to a non-trapping state at T=0 K. Our quantum treatment fully takes gravity into account but neglects all interactions in the free falling beam. We obtain an analytical expression of the output rate and of the wave function of the extracted beam, i.e. the output mode of the ``atom laser''. Our model reproduces satisfactorily experimental data without any adjustable parameter.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2000

Multi frequency evaporative cooling to BEC in a high magnetic field

We demonstrate a way to circumvent the interruption of evaporative cooling observed at high bias field for $^{87}$Rb atoms trapped in the (F=2, m=+2) ground state. Our scheme uses a 3-frequencies-RF-knife achieved by mixing two RF frequencies. This compensates part of the non linearity of the Zeeman effect, allowing us to achieve BEC where standard 1-frequency-RF-knife evaporation method did not work. We are able to get efficient evaporative cooling, provided that the residual detuning between the transition and the RF frequencies in our scheme is smaller than the power broadening of the RF transitions at the end of the evaporation ramp.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2000

RF-induced evaporative cooling and BEC in a high magnetic field

We present the design of our iron-core electromagnet for BEC, and how to solve the specific experimental problems raised by this technique. After presenting the experimental set-up, we address the interruption of runaway evaporative cooling when the Zeeman effect is not linear. We present the ways to circumvent this problem, use of multiple RF frequencies, sympathetic cooling and show some applications of these high magnetic fields (cavity coupling, high confinement).

physics.atom-ph↗